Wealth of knowledge
Who wants to be a millionaire? The answer from most people likely is a resounding "me," but with debt at an all-time high and the cost of living going through the roof, achieving millionaire status may seem like a fantasy for most Americans.

Electronics equipment taken from car
A Jefferson resident reported his Dodge Avenger was entered between 11 p.m. Saturday and 2 a.m. Sunday while it was parked behind a Days Inn motel on North Finley Street, and four television sets, a DVD player, speakers and a CD player with a total value of $3,950 were stolen, Athens-Clarke police said.

Purse, cash stolen from unlocked car
A woman told police $1,700 worth of cash and her purse were stolen from her car parked near the Athens Dance Academy off Baxter Street Saturday between 1:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.

Motel employee reports robbery
An employee at the Bulldog Inn off Commerce Road told police someone hit him in the head with a beer bottle and took money and a pistol from the motel Saturday at approximately 10:40 p.m.

Teen says youth pointed gun at her
A 15-year-old girl reported that a 13-year-old boy pointed a gun at her Sunday at the Rocksprings Homes apartment complex, Athens-Clarke police said.

Man treated after car hits tree head-on
Jonathan Rucker of Binion Road was driving a 1992 Lexus ES-300 north on Binion Road at about 5:45 p.m. Sunday when he lost control around a curve in the 100 block and struck a tree head-on, Athens-Clarke police said.

Athens man caught breaking into cars
A 35-year-old Athens man was arrested early Monday after he was caught entering a car at Oakland Way and Woodlawn Avenue, Athens-Clarke police said.

Resident stabbed in shoulder
A Windy Hill Way resident was stabbed once in the shoulder by a roommate Sunday, but no one was immediately arrested as the victim refused to press charges, Athens-Clarke police said.

Eminem album gets early release
Citing Internet piracy and bootlegging as well as "rabid demand," Interscope Records announced Eminem's new album, "Encore," will be released Friday instead of the scheduled Nov. 16.

Jason Alexander a sports nut on 'Listen Up'
NEW YORK - On "Listen Up," Jason Alexander plays a sitcom version of real-life TV sports talk host and newspaper columnist Tony Kornheiser. His character, Tony Kleinman, is a sports fanatic.

Quick Glimpse
* Athens-Clarke County Police Department Employees of the Quarter recently were honored with a reception. SPO Rich McDougald was the Sworn Employee of the Quarter. Communications Officer Kim Fuller was the Civilian Employee of the Quarter.

Pilot Club
The Classic City Pilot Club recently presented stuffed animals to Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

A Look Around
Susan Williams and her son, Jonathan, browse rocks and minerals with exhibitor Susan Richardson at the Sandy Creek Nature Center.

Smith: On top of ol' smokey
The Yellow Pages sometimes reveal more than the phone number you need. That is how my curiosity, after perusing one particular ad, led me to a real live chimney sweep, who met me looking very much like guy headed to his office casually dressed for the day. He didn't appear anything like Dick Van Dyke in "Mary Poppins."

Today in History
Today is Monday, Nov. 8, the 313th day of 2004. There are 53 days left in the year.

Stomach virus keeps Greene out of practice
Georgia quarterback David Greene was sacked Monday by a stomach virus, keeping him away from team meetings and a night practice, but quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo said he expected the senior to play on Saturday against Auburn.

Ware's status uncertain
Georgia starting tailback Danny Ware is questionable for Saturday's game against third-ranked Auburn after spraining his right ankle and knee in the first quarter of the 62-17 win over Kentucky.

BCS not smiling on Bulldogs
Georgia moved up one spot to eighth in the latest Bowl Championship Series standings on Monday after Tennessee's loss to Notre Dame. The Bulldogs have a chance for a bigger leap with a victory over No. 3 Auburn on Saturday, but even finishing 10-1 might not be enough for Georgia to land in a BCS bowl.

Smith: Rodneys watch over Golston
When Rodney Garner got the call that Kedric Golston had been placed in intensive care at an Atlanta hospital, he was overwhelmed with concern, but was helpless to come to the aid of his young friend, who was in a coma for two weeks.

Golf team makes it two straight
ROCKY FACE, Ga. - The third-ranked Georgia men's golf team held off a late charge from Wake Forest to complete a wire-to-wire win at the Carpet Capital Collegiate at The Farm on Sunday.

Drug expected to become first sold for specific race
NEW ORLEANS - A two-drug combination pill dramatically reduced deaths among blacks with heart failure, a landmark finding that is expected to lead to government approval of the first medication marketed for a specific race.

Commissioners praised for stream-buffer vote
The Athens-Clarke County Commission's 8-2 vote last week to support a strong "green" infrastructure by mandating 75-foot stream buffers was a bold step that recognizes the economic and environmental value of our waterways and wetlands.

There are moral issues beyond gay marriage
Polls indicate voters whose top concerns are "moral issues" won re-election for President Bush and overwhelmingly passed propositions defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

CertainTeed emissions may not be in our interest
The CertainTeed fiberglass insulation plant on Athena Drive in eastern Clarke County is seeking permission to put tons of additional emissions into the air ("Plant makes request to increase emissions," Nov. 1).

Let's stop prejudging and try to work with Barrow
Three days after the Nov. 2 election, the sore losers in Georgia's 12th Congressional District were already attacking (Letters, Nov. 5) new Democratic Congressman John Barrow. Let's stop prejudging his work and start giving him suggestions. He is now everyone's congressman, and I'm certain he'll listen to all opinions and needs in the district.

Government shouldn't regulate marriage
Nancy MacNair (Letters, Nov. 5) says the marriage amendment, which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman, is about "discrimination, deception and ... intolerance and prejudice ..."

Why should Bush reach out after win?
Here we are, just after the election with all the typical sudden gracious talk (Editorial, Nov. 4) about reaching out to those who do not agree with us. What nonsense.

Small plane crashes onto Atlanta house
ATLANTA - A small plane crashed onto a suburban Atlanta house on Monday just after taking off from a regional airport, but authorities said there were no serious injuries.

Dems regroup after big loss
ATLANTA - Just two and a half years ago, Democrats ruled Georgia's political scene with an iron hand - and had for decades.

Planning begins on Clarke school calendars
Clarke County School District officials will be looking for public input next week on the upcoming school calendar, but one option that's drawn the most public attention won't be in the spotlight - a longer calendar that keeps students in class from August until June, similar to the calendar currently used by two elementary schools.

Textbook warning stickers challenged in court
ATLANTA - A warning sticker in suburban Atlanta science textbooks that says evolution is "a theory, not a fact" was challenged in federal court Monday as an unlawful promotion of religion.

Rape charges against official stem from Halloween party
Charges of rape and false imprisonment against the former director of the Oconee County Information Technology Department stem from an incident at a Watkinsville Halloween party Oct. 30, Watkinsville police officials said Monday.

Liberals are frustrated by 'moral values' claim
NEW YORK - Family values, traditional values and now, "moral values." Most American adults would say they have them, and yet that two-word phrase is the focus of an ideological tug-of-war heightened by President Bush's re-election, with conservatives declaring principal ownership and liberals scrambling to challenge them.

Resident pushes for deal over reservoir
NORTH HIGH SHOALS - The owner of a dam on the Apalachee River says Oconee County is making a mistake in getting involved in the planned 1,370-acre Hard Labor Creek Reservoir, and that he could provide the county with a better deal.

Committee assignments still up in air
ATLANTA - The guessing game continues at the Georgia Capitol over which Republicans will get the plum committee assignments in January when the House of Representatives comes under GOP rule.

Fund-raiser set for recovery house
Belk's of Athens will produce a fashion show to benefit Freedom from Bondage Women's Recovery Residence at 7 p.m. Thursday in the family life center at Young Harris United Methodist Church, 973 Prince Ave.

First GOP speaker in 134 years chosen
ATLANTA - Glenn Richardson - the lawmaker set to become the first Republican speaker in the Georgia House since 1870 - wasted no time ushering in history Monday.

Committee to hold public meeting
Athens-Clarke County's Government Operations Committee, a standing committee of five county commissioners, will hold a public hearing tonight to hear comments on proposed changes to the way police call for wrecker services.

Local units to be sent to Middle East
A Georgia National Guard unit based in Winder and other units in the guard's 48th Infantry Brigade learned Monday the U.S. Department of Defense will mobilize them for deployment to the Middle East.

Seminar to consider media consolidation
The Peabody Center for Media and Society at the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication will host a seminar this week on "Global Implications of Media Industry Consolidation."

Voting machines compute success
ATLANTA - Choosing a president was far easier for Augusta resident Wilnesha Mitchell this year than it was four years ago - at least in terms of casting her ballot.

Nominations sought for top newsmakers
They all have stirred debate - some while building up Northeast Georgia, others while tearing it apart. But they certainly grabbed our attention as well as a few headlines along the way. Some came from atop ivory towers, others from below radar. Some came from sports fields, others concert venues. From boardrooms and backrooms to courtrooms and classrooms, they all have one thing in common.

Ivory Coast loyalists confront French troops in violent standoff
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - Thousands of government loyalists massed outside the home of Ivory Coast's president Monday, facing off against French armored vehicles in response to urgent appeals for a "human shield" around the hard-line leader, amid fears of an overthrow.

Blast damages Muslim school in Netherlands
THE HAGUE, Netherlands - A suspected bomb blew the front door off a Muslim elementary school in a southern Dutch town on Monday, days after a suspected Muslim radical allegedly killed a Dutch filmmaker, police said. No injuries were reported.

Impact already felt in small town
ROYSTON - The Johnson & Johnson Co. hasn't yet sent out any 60-day termination notices, but workers at the plant got a visible reminder of the factory's imminent closing last week when a truck hauled a mobile home onto the plant grounds.

Georgia House Republicans make history
ATLANTA - House Republicans made history Monday by nominating as their leader Dallas attorney Glenn Richardson, who is now virtually guaranteed to become the first GOP speaker in Georgia since Reconstruction.

License bureau, post offices to close
U.S. Postal Service offices across the country and the state Department of Motor Vehicle Safety driver's license bureau at 1505 U.S. Highway 29 will be closed Thursday in observance of Veterans Day.

Forces seize key strongholds in Fallujah
NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq - U.S. troops backed by thunderous air and artillery barrages launched a ground offensive Monday to seize key insurgent strongholds inside Fallujah, the city that became Iraq's major sanctuary for Islamic extremists who fought Marines to a standstill last April.

How did freedom fare Election Day?
Beyond the partisan bouts, freedom took a few blows while landing an occasional punch of its own on Election Day. More than 160 ballot measures in 34 states gave voters a temporary voice in the policy-making process. Several of those ballot questions directly affected the cause of limited government, personal freedom and responsibility.

UGA not simply driving around traffic congestion
Talk with anyone who drives the roads of Athens-Clarke County with any frequency, and you're likely to hear the complaint that if it weren't for University of Georgia students, getting around the community would be a lot easier.

E-voting problems scarce, but are still a cause for concern
A few years ago, as electronic voting began to replace punchcards and levers at polling places across the country, warnings about the potential for abuse of the technology began to surface. At the time, those warnings were written off as conspiracy theory-fueled rantings from the sort of folks who hear black helicopters humming in the night or who spend summer vacations aiming cameras across the Area 51 boundary line.

First win for Hawks may come at home
ATLANTA - As he rushed to attend a pep rally at Underground Atlanta Monday afternoon, Michael Gearon Jr. felt the effects of a West coast road trip with the Atlanta Hawks.

Crosby, Bay top rookies
NEW YORK - Oakland Athletics shortstop Bobby Crosby was just a vote shy of being a unanimous pick for AL Rookie of the Year, and Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay easily won the NL award Monday.

Pennington out, Carter to start Sunday
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington will miss two to four weeks with a strained right rotator cuff, which means former Georgia and Dallas Cowboys starter Quincy Carter will start Sunday against Baltimore.

Thrashers' Heatley hit in eye with puck
BERN, Switzerland - Atlanta Thrashers star Dany Heatley was hit in the eye with a puck during a Swiss league game and could be sidelined six weeks after facial surgery.

Right shot, right time
ATLANTA - Retief Goosen defied the odds at every turn Sunday in the Tour Championship. No one makes birdie on the 481-yard 16th hole, especially not from the rough. Goosen smoked a 5-iron from 195 yards that dropped in front of the flag and stopped 3 feet away.

Worn tires get Junior to line
AVONDALE, Ariz. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost an argument with his crew chief Sunday, and that helped him win the Checker Auto Parts 500 at the Phoenix International Raceway.

Purcell, Gonzalez close fall on good note
On the final day of the fall season for the men's tennis team, junior Colin Purcell and sophomore Ricardo Gonzalez ended play at the Bulldog Scramble Sunday afternoon with a pair of straight-set wins.

Oquendo named player of the week
For the third time this season, Georgia junior Alexandra Oquendo was named the SEC volleyball player of the week on Monday after leading the Bulldogs to a 2-0 record with wins over Georgia Southern and Kentucky.

Plenty of good, bad moments in blowout
After putting themselves in Georgia coach Andy Landers' doghouse for what he described as a "wasted week of practice" last week, the fifth-ranked Lady Bulldogs showed flashes of greatness Monday night.

Lady Dogs host first exhibition game
The Georgia women's basketball team, ranked No. 5 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches preseason poll, begins trying to live up to those high expectations tonight when it hosts Stars Under the Sun tonight (7 p.m.) at Stegeman Coliseum in the first of two preseason exhibition games.